Whenever you apply for a credit product in Canada, the lender will check your credit history from one or both of the two credit bureaus in Canada: TransUnion or Equifax. Since each credit check negatively impacts your credit history, it’s important to know which lender pulls what, helping you “stack” your credit churning appropriately and limiting the damage to any particular credit bureau.
An ‘X’ indicates the bureau used by the creditor. TransUnion is indicated in green, while Equifax is indicated in red. Most creditors only pull one bureau, with the exception of Capital One, who pulls both. A blue tab with a number indicates that the creditor may also pull from that bureau. An explanatory note for any blue and numbered entry is provided after the table.
If you have a different experience than listed, please comment, and I’ll update the table accordingly.
1: American Express occasionally pulls Equifax instead of TransUnion. It appears to apply to people with frequent AMEX history.
2: MBNA may pull Equifax after pulling Transunion if they require more information.
Most of this information was pulled from Red Flag Deals.
National Bank goes off Equifax.
Fixed, thanks!
bmo goes to Transunion when I tried to apply for a credit card
RBE definitely looks at both! I got a Visa in Feb 2017 and there are inquiries on both of my credit reports. Equifax and TransUnion.
CIBC pulled my credit report from transunion.
They pulled mine from Equifax
Canadian tire pulled both when I applied in December 2016
CIBC just checked my EQ twice for an overdraft that I applied for in branch.
PC Financial checked my EQ first, then went to TU and did two hits on the same day before approving the account- a bit annoying….
2 hits from the same bank on the same day counts as 1hit really. Just like car dealerships checking many banks within a 2 week period counts as one since you’re just trying to find the best interest rates.
1.Amex strictly TS.
2.BMO & Scotiabank use EQ for initial app CC opening but also use TS for $$ credit increases. Most CC limit increases they use TS.
3. National bank use Both same single app.
4.Most telephone or Cable accounts like Rogers Bell use Both.
5.Amex sometimes dont check hard credit check at all but pull soft credit check on both TS & EQ. They did not pull hard credit on me or family members but got rejected on online 2 accounts and they did review on both TS & EQ and it shows they did 4 soft crdit checks on both TS & EQ for Cash back card & Airmiles Gold.
Have heard from an ex-AMEX employee that they preferred going for EQ unless further information is required.
What does meridian Bank use
Meridian Credit union offers credit cards through Collabria Financial Services. In my case, credit inquiries are through Equifax but twice (One by Meridian and another by Collabria) for Meridian Visa card
Bell Uses Equifax
Capital One showed on my Equifax, but not on TransUnion. Also, for anyone concerned, Virgin mobile checked my Equifax.
What report does credit union atlantic and valley credit union use? both in Nova Scotia
I am quite sure they too issue their credit cards via Collabria. If they do, it would hit on your EQ followed by reporting to TS. I have a Collabria card which doesn’t reflect a hard hit on my TS but has after a few months started showing up on the report with monthly updates.
Vancity Visa used Transunion in my case but Vancity Credit Union used Equifax for the Line of Credit I applied for so it possibly does that for loans as well
– PC Financial only goes with TransUnion now.
– ATB Financial in Alberta only goes with Equifax
It does indeed (I haven’t checked my EQ) but it is mind boggling why would they issue me a CC with a 522 score (was a bit lower then). And give an unsecured $500. Perhaps because of another $1500 CC in good standing?
President choice still do equifax?
Both and Canadian Tire same.
Dec 22 2018…PC did 2 hits on TU & 1 on EQ.
Please add Collabria to your list and for that matter all credit unions. Collabria goes off EQ.